Novice

Generations@school launch in Latvia

As part of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, an event to celebrate the launch of Generations@school project in Latvia took place on 10th May in Sigulda.

Ilze Viņķele, Minister of Welfare, and Uģis Mitrevics, the Head of Municipality of Sigulda, visited Sigulda City Secondary school and addressed pupils and senior citizens.

The attendants engaged in a conversation about what it means to grow old, how to foster a better understanding between young and older people and what can we do to build a better future together.

A sunny May afternoon accompanied the participants of the five creative workshops established on the front yard of the school, where about 50 pupils from various grades under the supervision of senior citizens, acquired the skills of street gymnasts and rangers, creating greeting cards for their moms as well as solving tasks that required a lot of quick wit.

The Minister of Welfare declared that Sigulda is a city where the priorities set for the European Year 2012, i.e. co-operation between generations, increasing the value of senior citizens in society, and promoting an active and healthy lifestyle, are implemented on a daily basis.

She encouraged the Sigulda District to also take part in the competition of municipalities that is organised in the framework of the European Year where, in co-operation with the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, awards such as “Municipality for Co-operation between Generations” and “Municipality for Increasing the Value of Senior Citizens in Society” will be given.

The creative workshops organised in the framework of the event were managed by Baiba Šteina, the Goodwill Ambassador for the European Year 2012 and the founder and artistic leader of the Zelta sietiņš Folk Dance Ensemble, Daina Štāla, founder and leader of the Vizbulīte Sigulda Dance Collective.